What Is Our Government Doing to Advance Women's Rights?

It is clear that even in 2015, there is a lot of work to be done both at home and abroad to advance the rights and equality of women. Let's take a peek at what the federal political parties in this country are doing to make a difference.

ASSOCIATED PRESSA woman holds up her hand as she waits to be silhouetted with white chalk during a performance by Spanish Artist Irisarri at ARCO, the international contemporary Art fair in Madrid, Spain, Friday, Feb. 27, 2015. The ARCO art fair will run from Feb. 25 to March 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

Too bad the real issues facing women's equality in this country aren't simple. They are complicated, and can't be fixed by altering a word or two on paper.

What about the NDP? They have always been outspoken champions of women's equality -- surely they are working on something that will make a real difference in the lives of women, right? NDP MP Irene Mathyssen has tabled a private member's bill aimed at abolishing the GST on women's menstrual products like tampons. According to proponents of this bill, female hygiene product taxes are discriminatory.

Too bad that tax free tampons won't do anything to stop the discrimination faced by women everyday in places like the workplace and even on school campus.

Alright Liberals and NDP, either step up your game or give credit where credit is due by joining forces with the government to put an end to violence against women.

Cheaper tampons and lyric editing are simply not the best use of parliament's time and resources when women still face very serious issues that impede their safety and equality.

Making the country, and the world, an equal and safe place for women should be a non-partisan goal. On International Women's Day 2015, let's see all parties take a stand against domestic violence, and pledge to work together to fight it.